Vlady released by Jays, now a free agent

[caption id="attachment_121880" align="alignleft" width="330" caption="Guerrero hitting a single against Tampa Bay in June 2006. (Photo by Steve Nesius, AP)"][/caption]

The gut reaction on news that Vladimir Guerrero had been released by the Toronto Blue Jays today is that he was finished, and now he'd take up residence in a rocking chair, a rookie in the Dominican Republic quilting league.

Not so fast. The former Angels slugger apparently had grown impatient with the Toronto Blue Jays, and the team has released him. He's now a free agent, and seems to have no intention of giving up his attempt at a comeback at age 37.

According to the Toronto Star, Guerrero reportedly had an opt-out clause in the minor-league deal he signed with the Blue Jays that allowed him to become a free agent if the Blue Jays hadn't called him up from Triple-A by a particular date.

In his last game for the Las Vegas 51s, Guerrero went 4 for 5 with a triple. Team manager Marty Brown told the Star on Tuesday that before Monday night's game, Guerrero "made the comment to me ... that it was going to be his last game with us."

Jesus Alou, one of Guerrero's agents, told ESPNdeportesLosAngeles.com: "Toronto informed us that it had no space in the majors for Guerrero, so now we move forward. Vlady did all he could do to show that he is ready to play in the major leagues. We believe that another team will appreciate that."

Guerrero is years away from his powerhouse years with the Expos and Angels, but clearly he can still play. Last year with Baltimore he hit .290 with 13 homers. That came a year after he hit 29 homers and drove in 115 in his one season with the Texas Rangers.

Guerrero has 449 homers, 1,496 RBI and a .318 average for his career. He's tied for 36th on the career homer list, having been surpassed this season by Albert Pujols.

He signed with the Angels in 2004 and won the AL MVP award, hitting .337 with 39 homers and 126 RBI. In six seasons with the Angels he averaged 29 homers and 103 RBI.

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